Automatic spike machine



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G. WEBER AUTOMATIC SPIKE MACHINE Filed Dec. v, 1922 8 Shee;cs-Sheet 8 tir CII

Patented July 5, 1927.

GOTTLIEB WEBER, OF YONGSTOVN, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC SPIKE MACHINE.

pplicatonled December 7, 1922. Serial No. 605,464.

This invention relates to machines of the automatic type for making railway spikes from hot bars and its objects `generally stated, are to make more efficient the operation of machines of this kind7 to increase the rate of production and at the same time to improve the uniformity and strength of the product.

The moving parts of a machine of this class are necessarily of heavy construction so that the maximum rate at which railway spikes may be made in machines now in common use is about 90 per minute. This rate is approximatelyv doubled in my improved machine by construction whereby two spikes are formed simultaneously. Interruptions, made necessary by the insertion of successive hot bars of stock from the furnace, are minimized in the present invention by providingfeed rolls, which exert sufficient pressure to withdraw unusually long; bars from the furnace. The feed rolls, while capable of moving bars of 100 feet or more in length, do not distort`the rectangular cross-section thereof because, by my peculiar formation and arrangement of said rolls7 pressure is applied uniformly tothe fou-r faces of the bars.

To produce long, regular points on the spikes it has been common practice to provide a pair of rolls carryingone or more pairs of opposed pointingdies, but heretofore these rolls have been operated intermittently and the movement of the severed spike blanks has been interrupted between the operations of pointing and heading` with the result that the blanks partially cool and the head is consequently frequently defective. Further, therolls and dies deterio. rate rapidly when their motion is intermittent, because stopping` of the rolls and dies in Contact with or in near proximity to the hot stock produces a softening;v in these temperate steel parts. I obviate these defects by providingE continuously rotating pointiirfg` rolls and means for quickly conveying' the spike blanks from said rolls to the gripping and heading' mechanism.

A further object of my invention is to provide simplified and positively acting heading mechanism. It Yis necessary in order to produce accurate and uniform spike heads to eliminate all unnecessary joints and the play resulting;` from complex movement of the headin-fi` mechanism. ATo this end I cating motion and produce the necessary offsetting of the head by holding ythe spike blank at an angle to the header movement end elevation of my improved machine; i'

Fig, 2 is a plan view of one of the spike ina-king units or divisions of the machine, Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of the machine taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4- is an end view with the. feed rolls, roll sr-.pporting` frames and driving mechanism for said rolls removed to show details of the pointing mechanism; Figi". 5 is a vertical section taken'on the line 5 5 of Fig.

2; Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through the nipper mechanism; lFigs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are diagrammatic views illustrating thek operation of the nippers; Fig.

12 is a section though the heading mecha- 'Y nism and adjacent portions of the frame taken on the line 12 12 of Fig. 5; Fig. 13 is a detail plan view of the normally stationary gripping' die and the header; Fig. 14 is a detail elevation of the means for adjustine` the positions of the pointing` rolls relative to the other 'moving parts of the machine; 15 is a section taken on the line 15 15 of Fig. 14,:v Fig; 16 is a detail elevation of the gripping lever spring abutment; Fig. 1'? is horizontal section through the lg'augge lever, and Fig. 18 is a detail side of the kick-out lever.

My improved machine is composed of two divisions which simultaneously makev spikes from distinct bars of stock, the machine being symmetrical about the plane of section 3 3 of Fig. 1. These spike making divisions are both operated from a central power shaft 1 and a counter-shaft 2, the correspending working; parts on `one side of these walls 3 and 4t, longitudinal side walls 5 and intermediate transverse walls 6, 7 and 8, (Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive).

Feed rolls.

Mounted on the wall of each division of the frame are bearings 9 supporting an inclined shaft 1() and brackets 11 and 12 are formed on said wall to support a U shaped auxiliary frame 13 in which the feed rolls lll and 15 are journalled (Figs. 1 to 4L, inclusive). The feed rolls 14. and l5 are fast on arbors 16 and 17, respectively, and these arbors are journalled in the auxiliary frame 13 in parallel relation and at an angle of 15 degrees with the horizontal. Annular V shaped grooves 18 are formed in the peripheries of the rolls 14 and 15 so arranged as to co-act in engaging the four faces of rectangular bar stock. To drive the feed rolls 14: and 15 at uniform peripheral speed meshing gears 19 are mounted on the upper ends of the arbors 16 and 17 and a gear 20, on the opposite end of the arbor 17 is driven by a gear 21 on the shaft 10. The latter shaft is in turn driven by a worm wheel 22 on its upper end and a. worm 23 on the drive shaft 1.

Pointing rolls 24; and 25 are mounted respectively on shafts 26 and 27 in suitable bearings in the frame. These rolls carry opposed pointing and severing dies 28 (Fig. 5),` which co-act at their adjacent peripheries to cut spike blanks from bar stock and at the same time form points on the blanks. To prevent lateral spreading of the spike points by the dies 28, flanges 29 and 30 are severally formed on the rolls 241 and 25, respectively'. The rolls 24 and 25, resemble the rolls described and claimed in my copending application for patent on a spike machine, filed March 22. 1922, bearing Serial No. 545,661. The pointing rolls 24 and 25 are adapted to be continuously driven in opposite directions by a pair of gears 31 (severally mounted on the ends of the shafts 26 and 27) and aA worm wheel 32 (connected with the latter shaft as hereinafter described) which is rotated by a worm 33 on the drive shaft 1.

Wippe?" mechanism.

The nipper mechanism or means for conveying the severed spike blanks from the pointing` rolls to the heading mechanism is shown in Figs. 2, 5, 6 and 7. the operation being shown diagrammatically in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive. A pair of parallel rails 34 are bolted to the upper surface of the frame and extend from adjacent to the bearings for the shaft 26 to the walls 8 (Fig. Freely movable on the rails 34 is a hollow slide 35, and a carriage 37 (in which nippers 38 are mounted) is in turn supported by and movable longitudinally in the slide 35. The nipper-s 38 are pivotally joined by pins 39 to the carriage 37. said nippers being guided in a horizontal slot in said carriage. Rollers 410, in the nippers 38, are adapted to be maintained in Contact with the cams 36 by a compression spring 11 arranged between said nippers so as to urge them apart. The free ends of the nipper-s project obliquely downward from the rollers lO and are provided with inwardly projecting lugs 42 between which the spike blanks are gripped To permit the nippers to open in an emergency, springs 43 are placed between the cams 36 and the slide 35. The tension of these springs 48 may be adjusted by suitable set screws 4A, so that the pressure exertedl is sufficient to produce the normal gripping strength between the lugs 42. but said springs will be compressed to allow separation of said lugs if the pressure between them becomes excessive. rThe heads of the set screws 44 extend into suitable longitudinal grooves formed in the rails 34, and a brace-rod 46 reinforces the open end of the slide 35.

Reciprocating movement is imparted to the slide 35 and carriage 37 by a large gear 47, which is driven by a pinion L18 and connected by a crank 49 linked by a rod 50 with said slide and by a rod 51 with said carriage. The rod 59 joins aV suitable stud .formed on the slide with the lower crank pin 52 of the crank 49 and the rod 51 joins the upper pin 53 of said crank carriage 37. The crank i.19 is rigidly secured to the upper face of the gear e7 near its periphery and the crank pin 58 moves in a circle of somewhat smaller radius than the circle in which the pin 52 moves. By thus placing the crank pins 52 and 53 at different radii and angular positions the desired movement of the slide 35 relative to the carriage 37 is produced. The gear 17 is fast on a shaft 55. said shaft being journalled in bearings 56 on the outer surface of the wall 5 and the pinion 41S is fast on a shaft 57 ngiounted in a bearing` 58 on the inner surface of said wall. The latter shaft is driven by 'the hereinafter described mechanism.

@ripping mechanism.

The blanks pointed as above described are deposited on a table 59 and then advanced and released by the nippers 88 so as to fall into a recess in a normally stationary die 60, longitudinal movement being stopped by the hereinafter described gauge 61 (Figs. 5. 6 and 13). The die 60 projects beneath and supports one laterial face of the spike blank during the gripping operation. This die 60 is fastened in a holder 62. said holder being secured within a recess in a slide 63 by a cover plate 64. rlhe slide 63 is movable in a recess 65 in the frame while a series of with a stud 54 on the Yby means of screws 69. By this arrange' ment the springs 66 provide relief against excessive pressure between the gripping dies, but exert sutlicient torce to hold the die stationary rin the ordinary operation o1 forming a headI on a spike.

Mounted opposite the die 60, is a eofacting die 70 which is held by la plate 71 in a .gripping lever 72'. This lever is pivotally supported between the transverse Walls 6 and'7 (Figs. 8 and 6)l upon a large pin 78 and is arranged to actuated by a cam 74 on the counter shat't 2. A'roller 75, on the lever 72, is held in Contact With the periphery of the cam 74; by rod 76 under the action ot a pair of springs 77. rEhis rod 76 connects the grip ping levers ot one division of the machine with that of the other. The ends of the rod 76, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 6, project through perfor-ations in spring abutment blocks 78 on the gripping levers and then axially V through the springs 77.. Suitable nuts and Washers are placed on they ends ot the rod 76 to retain the springs 77. The blocks 78, as sho-Wn in detail in Fig. 16, are' substantially eubical and formed with laterally projecting studs 79. rlhese studs are pivotally held in upward-ly projecting ears 80 on the gripping levers v72. The rod 76 passes through holes 81 in the blocks 78. Thus, the compression springs 77 maintain both rollers in contact With the periphery of the cam 74 so that both levers are given oscillating movement about' the pins 73 by the cams 74 when the shaft 2 is turned. The shaft 2 is driven by a pinion 82 on the shaft 1, Which meshes with a. large gear 83 on the shalt 2. On this shaft 2,.'adjacent to the gear 83, is a large bevel gear 84,. meshing with a similar gear 85 on a transverse shaft 86 adapted to drive the hereinafter described heading mechanism.

Headzagmechanism..

The shaft 86 is formedY With a crank 87, 2 and 5, which actuates the header. A. pitman 88 connects the crank 87 with the header proper 89 ligs. 5, 12 and 18) Isaid header being slidable longitudinally in a' recess 90 in the AWall 7. Flanges 91 project from. Athe latter wall to form a supportV for tle header 89 and said header is held Within vthe recess 90 by cover plates 92.- Bifurcated ends 93, on the header 89, are perforated to receive a pin 911 which connects said header With the pitman 88. A header Vdie 95, form-ed with the usual spoon shaped end, is held Within a suitable recess in the header 819" by a platel 96. To eliminate lateral play and take up Wear, tapered vWearing strips Vmoveinent 97 are placed along the lateral edges of the header 89. To take up weer the lower ends ot the strips 97 are merely eut olf the necessary amount when said strips may be driven downward Within the recess 90 thereby makin'y a close sliding lit between the header guide walls. Suitable hardened steel s are also inserted between the 'flanges S 150 e/f; gauge.

l ie above mentioned gauge 61 is bolted. to :in upturned end oit a lever 98, extending beneath and .longitudinally ot' the header 89 and' pitnian 88, (see Figs. 5, 12 and; 17). r1`his lever 98 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 99, which is supported by a bracket 100 on the wall 8. The pin 99 is formed with a substan allyf horizontal lstud 101 projecting through a perforation in the bracket 100 and is made adjustable therein by suitable nuts placed en said stud at the opposite te., oit s 'd bracket. A compression spring 102 suppe ts the leve-r 98 and tilting y oit' sud lever on the 'pin 99 is limited by a bolt 103 which passes through a slot 10st in said lever, and a 'perforation in an angle clip 102iL secured to the walll 7, through the coiled spring 102. fr suitable .it and Washer is placed on the bolt 103 to engage the upper surface of the lever 98 and thereby limit upward movement et said lever. A cam 105, on the` lever 98, is ranged to be held in contact with on the header 89 by the spring a roller 106 102. The arrang mentef this roller and the cam is such that the lever 98, car-` Hideout median/ism.

Means for removing finished spikes from the stationary die 60 are provided as shown in Figs. 2 and 18. A. lever 107 is pivoted upon a bolt 108 in the trame and is adapted to be actuated by a cam 109' on the face of a 110. and a small roller 111 on the end o1 the lever 107 is held in Contact with the face otl said lgear and said cam 109 by a spring` 112. .a kiek-out' rod 113 is p-ivotally fastened to the end of the lever 107 opposite the roller 111 and projects beneath the plate 6% in a groove 11114 with its extremity adjacent to the pointed end of a-spike blank in the ipinf; dies. Thus, onee each revelution of the gear the rod 1l?) is actu ated to remove spike blanks from the stationary diev 60.

rlChe gear 110 is tast on the header shaft 86 and drives a end of the pinion 115 on a counter shaft 116. This counter shaft is journalled in a suitable bearing in the wall 5 and is iitted with a small bevelled gear 117 (Figs, 2 and the latter gear being in mesh with a similar gear 118 on the lower end of the vertical shaft 57.

Timing mechanism.

Adjustment of the angular positions of the pointing rolls 24 and 25 relative to the nippel', gripping, heading and kick-out mechanism, is facilitated by a shaft 119, a collar 120 and annular flanges 121 and 122 are interposed between the worm wheel 32 and the pointing shaft 27. The shaft 119, upon which the wheel 32 is secured is in axial alignment with the shaft 27 and secured thereto by the collar 120 and the coacting flanges 121 and 122. The end of this shaft 119 is formed with longitudinal grooves 123, which are adapted to receive internal ribs in the collar 120 and a similarly grooved stud 124, formed on the flange 122, is also adapted to be inserted in and to be engaged by ribs in the collar 120. The flange 121 is fast on. the end of the shaft 27 and formed with radial teeth or corrugations which mesh with a similarly roughencd face of the flange 122. The llanges 121 and 122 are adapted to be bolted together, the bolts 125 being inserted through registering, arcuate slots 126 in said Hanges. A removable pin 127 is inserted through a perforation in the shaft 119 and normally projects to prevent longitudinal movement of the collar 120 on `said shaft. To change the position of the pointer dies relative to the other mechanism of the machine the pin 127 is removed, the collar 120 is slid longitudinally on the shaft 119 out of engagement with the stud 124, and the bolts 125 are loosened sutliciently to free the flange 122 from the flange 121. The flange 121 and pointing rolls are now rotated the desired amount and again secured to the flange 122, the collar 120 being moved back and secured in place by inserting the pin 127.

O parat/ion.

In operation the shaft 1 Vis continuously driven by a suitable motor not shown) the several operating parts of both spike making divisions of the machine being connected as above described with the shaft 1. @ne end of a long hot bar of stock is now inserted between each pair of upper feed rolls 14 and lower feed rolls 15. The stock, indirated at 130 in the drawings, is square in cross section so that by the arrangement of the grooved rolls at degrees with the hori- Zontal, pressure is exerted diagonally between opposite corners of the bar and the parting of the rolls coincides with the intermediate corners of the bar. Thus, pressure suflicient to compress and somewhat elongate bar stock as it is fed into the machine is exerted without distorting the cross sectional shape thereof. This arrangement has the further advantage of preventing the bar from being bent as it would be were the pressure on the four faces not uniform.

Both bars are thus delivered by the feed rolls 14 and 15 between the pointing rolls 24 and 25. As the latter rolls rotate continuously the opposed dies 28 cut the bar into spike blanks of equal length and at the same time form the points of the spikes on the rearward end thereof and deliver the severed blanks one after another to the table 59.

as each spike blank is about to be severed from the remaining bar stock, as described above, it is gripped between the lugs 42 of the nippers 38. The operation of these nippers is illustrated diagrammatically in F 8 to 11, inclusive. The gear 47, which actuates the nippers 38, is rotated as indicated by arrows. Now, assuming the connecting rod 51 to be in its dead center position, shown in Fig. 8, the nippers 38 will be separated, free of the stock 130. In this posit-ion the rod is moving the U shaped slide 35, carrying the cams 36, toward the rollers 40. rlhe instant the gear 47 turns past the dead center position of the rod 51 the slide 35 and carriage 37 will be moving in opposite directions to cause a quick closing of the nippers on the stock and a simultaneous forward movement of said arms. rllhe several parts are se designed and arranged that this forward or longitudinal movement of the nippers, at the instant they close on a spike blank, is a little faster than the movement of the bar stock between the pointing rolls, and the timing is snch that the nippers will have started toward the header with a blank before the dies 28 have completed the point on the succeeding blank. Thus, if as sometimes happens, a thin strip or 1in of metal is left unsevered between a spike blank and the remaining stock, the nippers, by reason of their higher speed, will break the fin, the remaining stock being held in the pointing dies. The nippers in closed position are shown in Fig. 9, while Fig. 1() illustrates the positions of the several parts of the nipper mechanism when the gear 47 has moved a quarter revolution from the position shown in Fig. 8. rlhe slide 35, carriage 37, nippers 38 and the spike blank are carried as shown in Fig. 10, toward the gripping dies until said mechanism reaches the position shown in Fig. 11. At this instant the carriage 37 is stationary, while the slide 35 is moving the cams 36 ont of contact with the rollers 40 and the nippers 38 are beginning to open. Thus, the nippers release the spike blank 131 while the latter still has longitudinal motion. The spike blank then drops to inclined position in the stationary die with the for- .the rod 4113.

angular 4gripping dies i prevent both over and under delivery Which ,are =the causes ofV lack Aof uniformity in the vsizes of thefspike heads. i

As soon .as the blank 131 falls to incline position inthe stationary die 60, the gripping die T0 closes under the action of the cam 74E to securely hold the yblank on its .four faces. The header 8.9, under the action .of the crank S7, is now lapproaching the end of theblank while the roller 106 `strikes the cam 105 and depresses the lever 98 (carrying .the gauge 61) to its full line position shown in Fig. y5. Further movementof the header :upsets the end of the blank to form the spike head. rlhe cam 74 now allows the gripping lever 72, Carrying the :die 270 under the action vof the springs 7i?, to release the finished spike.

As `soon ,as Athe gripping die T0 has ae leased .a spike the cam 109 strikes vthe Aro-ller 111 and thereby pivots 'the lever 107 on the bolt 108 to lstrike the spike with the end of .The -iinished spike isV thus thrown from the stationary .die v50 and falls into any suitable receptacle beneathlsaid die.

The power required for a spike machine is largely .determined `by the power required to operate the header and as the operation of forming a :head Aon a spike `in one .division of my improved machine is intermediate the operations of forming heads in the Aother division, it will be evident that :the power expended in the Whole machine is Abutl slightly greater than what is required in a lmachine Where only one spike is formed -at ,a time. It will also be evident that in the present machine all frictional retarding `devices are-eliminated so lthatfthe power usually Wasted in machines of this kind in retarding reciprocating feed or -nipper l.mechanism is saved. f

rEhe several parts, which operate -to point, convey., grip, vhead Iandfejeot spikes 5in my machine, are all operated at :the usual speed, viz, vfrom 85 .to 90 revolutions per minute, but two spikes are made inthe time required to make arsingle .spike in old types of ma# chines, .and the operation requires but asingle attendant. v

Having described ymy invention what I claim :as new Aand desire lto protect by :Letters Patent is: v i 1. .In a spike-machine, n isni adapted to cut spike blanks from bar sevening `mechastock, gripping .and heading mechanism, and means vfor .conveying said l'blanks from ,said ysevering mechanism :to said gripping mechanism, comprising a slide, La cam mounted on said slide, a carriage movable adjacent to said slide, a nipper arm pivotally mounted fon said carriage and arranged to .be actuated ,by said cam, rods severally ,connected to said slide and carriage, :and means for actuating said rods to impart reciprocating movement to said slide :and carriage,

2. In 1a spike machine the combination with a stationary gripping die, of means for conveying the material to be operated upon .to said die, comprising a slide, a cam 'mounted on said slide., a carriage :movable .adjacent to said slide, a 'nippel' mounted ,on said carriage land arranged to be actuated by. said cam, rods :severally .connected to said slide and carriage, and means for Vactuating Vsaid rods vto impart differential reciprocat- :ing movement tto said slide and carifriage.V

23. In a spike machine, imeans for conveying the material lto be operated upon, comprising a slide, a cam mounted fon said slide, a carriage movable .adjacent to said slide, va nipper mounted on `said carriage and ,arranged vto Vhe actuated by said cam, -rods severally connected to said slide .andra-r.- aiiage, .a shaft, crank pins connected at d-i-fferent angular positions to said shaft, said pins being joined to said rods, and means for rotating said Vsha-ft.

el. In :a spike machine, means -for conveying vthe material to :be operated Iiapon, comprising 'a slide, a cam mounted on said-slide,

.a carriage anovable adjacent tofsaid slide, a

nippel` mounted on said carriage and far- -ranged `to be actuated by. saidl cam, rods ,severally connectedtosaid slideand carriage,

a gear, crank pins at fdiflerent radii and angular Ipositions on said gear, said pins beiing connected to said rods, and means for rotating said gear. 1 f

5. In a spike machine, sever-ing mechanism adapted to cut spike blanks from -bar stock, gripping and Iheading mechanism and means foriconveying said blanks from said severing mechanismV toV said grippin :mechanism, comprising a slide, a cam mounted on said slide, a carriage movable adjacent to `said slide, :a vtransverse'ly movable -nipper mounted on said .carriage and arranged to vbe .actuated by said :cam `to engage spike blanks, :resilient fmeans arranged to allow movement :of said .cam .When the lgripping ,pressure on'V a spike `blank becomes excessive, ,rods severally :connected to said slide and icarriage, :and means foractuating said rods ping -fbar stock to vbeopt-:ated upon, comprising a slide, a cam mounted on said slide, a

carriage movable adjacent to said slide, a transversely movable nipper mounted on said carriage and arranged to be actuated by said cam to engage bar stock, resilient means arranged to allow movement of said cam when the gripping pressure on bar stock becomes excessive, rods severally connected to said slide and carriage, and means for actuating said rods to impartreciprocating movement to said slide and carriage.

7. In a spike machine, means for conveying bar stock to be operated upon, comprising a hollow slide, a pair of cams mounted in said slide, a carriage movable within said slide adjacentto said cams, a pair of nippers mounted on said carriage and arranged to be actuated by said cams, rods severally connected to said slide and carriage, and means for actuating said rods to impart reciprocating movement to said slide and carriage.

8. In a spike machine, means for conveying bar stock to be operated upon, comprising a hollovi7 slide, a pair of cams mounted in said slide, a carriage movable within said slide adjacent to said cams, a pair of nippers mounted on said carriage and arranged to be actuated to grip bar stock by said cams, rods severally connected to said slide and carriage, a gear, crank pins rigidly mounted 0n said gear at different angular positions and severally connected to said rods, and means for rotating said gear to impart reciprocating movement to said slide and carriage.

9. In a spike machine, the combination with pointing rolls and gripping and heading mechanisms arranged to successively receive substantially rectangular bar stock having flat sides, disposed with a i'lat surface in horizontal position, said pointing rolls having their axes disposed horizontally and feed rolls, separate from said pointing rolls, and having axes at an oblique angle to the horizontal, adapted to deliver said stock flat to said pointing rolls, said feed rolls being formed with url-shaped annular grooves in their peripheries wherein the stock may lbe gripped by pressure exerted diagonally across the corners thereof While retaining the stock with a flat side in horizontal position.

l0. In a spike machine, the combination.

with pointing rolls and gripping and heading mechanisms arranged to successively receive substantially rectangular bar stock, disposed with a surface in horizontal position, said pointing rolls having their axes disposed horizontally, of feed rolls separate from said pointing rolls and having axes at an oblique angle to the horizontal, adapted to deliver said stock flat to said pointing rolls, said feed rolls being formed with V-shaped annular grooves in their peripheries wherein the stock may be gripped by pressure exerted diagonally across the Lesaeev corners thereof, and laterally oscillating nippers arranged to grip the vertical side surfaces of a pointed spike blank for conveying it to said heading mechanism.

l1. In a spike machine, a pair of co-acting rolls arranged to receive bar stock to be formed into spikes between their adjacent peripheries, opposed pointing and severing dies projecting from the periphery of said rolls, means for continuously rotating said rolls, heading mechanism, and means for co veying spike blanks from said rolls to said heading mechanism, said means comprising a slide, a cam mounted in said slide, a carriage movable adjacent to said slide and cam, a nipper mounted on said carriage and arranged to be actuated by said cam to engage spike blanks, rods severally connected to said slide and carriage, crank pins severally joined to said rods and arranged to be moved in circular paths, and means for moving said crank pins to impart reciprocat- 'ing movement to said slide and carriage and thereby cause said nipper to engage spike blanks while the same are in motion and then to carry said blanks to said heading mechanism.

l2. In a spike machine, a pair of co-acting rolls arranged to receive bar stock to be formed into spikes between their adjacent peripheries, means for continuously rotating said rolls, heading mechanism, and means for conveying spike blanks from said rolls to said heading mechanism, comprising a slide, a cam mounted in said slide, a carriage movable adjacent'to said slide and cam, a nipper mounted on said carriage and arranged to be actuated by said cam to engage spike blanks, rods severally connected to said slide and carriage, a shaft, crank pins severally fastened to said shaft at diil'erent radii and angular positions and arranged to be moved in circular paths, and means for rotating said shaft to impart reciprocating movement to said slide and carriage and thereby cause said nipper to engage spike blanks while the same are in motion and then to carry said blanks to said heading mechanism.

13. In a spike machine, a frame, means for conveying spike blanks in substantially horizontal position in said frame, a gripping die disposed to receive blanks from said conveying means and to support the same in inclined position with the lower end ofthe blanks projecting, a header arranged to impinge against the projecting ends-of the blanks, and a gauge movable between said die and header and constituting a stop for blanks in said die whereby a predetermined quantity of stock is allowed to project for the formation of each spike head.

14. In a spike machine, the combination with a movable header and feeding mechanism for delivering spike blanks longitudinally toward said header, a die arranfred to support a blank in a position inclined relative to the direction of feed and with the forward end of the blank lower than the rearward end and a coacting die adapted to alternately grip and release blanks supported in said first mentioned die, said dies being arranged to hold a spike blank in said inclined position during the formation of a head thereon by said header'.

15. ln a spike machine, the combination with a substantially horizontally movable header and feeding mechanism for delivering spike blanks substantially horizontally toward said header, a die arranged to support a blank in a position inclined relative to the direction of feed and with the forward end of the blank lower than the rearward end and a coactiiig die adapted to be oscillated laterally to alternately grip and release blanks supported in said first mentioned die, said dies being arranged to hold a spike blank in said inclined position during the formation of a: head thereon by said header.

16. ln a spike machine, a frame, a normally stationary die adapted to support a spike blank in inclined position, laterally oscillating gripping mechanism, a die ai'- ranged in said mechanism to co-act with said stationary. die to alternately grip and release spike blanks, resilient means for urging said normally stationary die toward said gripping die whereby said first mentioned die is allowed to move when the gripping pressure beconies excessive, a reciproeating header anda die in said header adapted to impinge against and form a head on a spike blank while held by said gripping mechanism.

17. in a spike machine of the class described,.the combination with a normally stationary die, adapted to support a spike blank during theheading operation, laterally oscillating gripping mechanism, a die arranged iii said mechanism to coact with said stationary die to alternately grip and release ping die, whereby said first mentioned die is allowed to move when the gripping pressure becomes excessive, and a header adapted to coact with said gripping mechanism to form i the heads of spikes.

18. The combination in a spike machine adapted to simultaneously receive at one end thereof two bars of stock disposed in horizontally spaced, parallel relation, of a central power shaft extending in parallel relation to said bars of stock, duplicate pointing, gripping and heading mechanisms arranged on opposite sides of said shaft to successively receive the bars of stock, and adapted to be severally driven from said shaft, said headingmechanisms being adapted to co-act with the gripping mechanism on the same side of said shaft to form heads of spikes and being operated alternately and each of said pointing and gripping mechanisms being driven from said central shaft. independently of said other mechanisms on the same side of said shaft.

19. The combination in a spike machine adapted to simultaneously receive at one end thereof two bars of stockdisposed in horizontally spaced, parallel relation, of central power and counter shafts extending in parallel relation to saidfbars of stock, duplicate feeding mechanisms adapted to be operatively connected to said counter shaft on vopposite sides thereof, duplicate heading mechanisms adapted to be operatively connected to said power shaft on opposite sides thereof and means severally connecting said pointing and heading mechanisms with said counter and power shafts respectively, whereby the heading and pointing mechanisnis at each side of said shafts are driven therefrom independently of said other mechanism on the same sidev of said shaft.

In testimony whereof, I rhave hereunto signed my naine to this specification.

GOTTLIEB WEBER. 

